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The Tipping Point (Tears for Fears album)

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The Tipping Point
Studio album by
Tears for Fears
Released25 February 2022
Recorded2013–2021
Genre
Length42:25
LabelConcord
Producer
Tears for Fears chronology
Rule the World: The Greatest Hits
(2017) 		The Tipping Point
(2022)
Singles from The Tipping Point
  1. "The Tipping Point"
    Released: 7 October 2021
  2. "No Small Thing"
    Released: 3 December 2021
  3. "Break the Man"
    Released: 13 January 2022
  4. "My Demons"
    Released: 1 June 2022
  5. "Long, Long, Long Time"
    Released: 18 August 2022

The Tipping Point is the seventh studio album by the English pop rock band Tears for Fears, released on 25 February 2022 through Concord Records.[5] It is the band's first studio album since Everybody Loves a Happy Ending, released almost 18 years prior.

Tracks on the album include "The Tipping Point", which was released with a music video in October 2021. Further singles followed, with "No Small Thing" released in December 2021, and "Break the Man" in January 2022. The album was a critical and commercial success, giving the band their sixth UK Top-5 album and highest chart peak in 30 years, also reaching the Top 10 in numerous other countries—particularly Scotland and the US, where it topped the charts, as well as Walloon Belgium and the UK, where it reached number 2, behind Central Cee's mixtape 23.[6] This became the band's sixth UK top-five album and their highest charting album since their 1993 release Elemental.[6]

In the United States, the album debuted at number eight on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 31,000 album-equivalent units (including 29,000 copies in pure traditional album sales, and 2,000 in streaming and song downloads) in its first week, according to MRC Data.[7] This became the band's third US top-ten album on the chart and their first release to achieve this since their 1989 album The Seeds of Love.[7] The album also accumulated a total of 2.04 million on-demand official streams from the set’s tracks.[7]

Background

Work on the album began in 2013, but the process proved difficult for band members Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith. The band were asked by their (then) management company to collaborate with various younger artists in an attempt to create a more contemporary- and commercial-sounding album. However, these sessions (which the band themselves likened to "speed dating") were not entirely successful, resulting in an album which, as Orzabal later put it, sounded "less like a Tears For Fears album". The band originally signed to the Warner Music label to release the album, but once it was completed in 2016, Universal Music (who own the bulk of the band's back catalogue from the 1980s and 90s) then showed interest in the project. Universal opted to first release a new compilation album, Rule the World: The Greatest Hits, in 2017 in order to pave the way for the new album. This included two of the new tracks, including "I Love You but I'm Lost" which was co-written by the band along with members of Bastille. Earlier that year (on April 7), Orzabal uploaded a demo version of "Please Be Happy", sung by him (as opposed to Smith on the final release, which is also sped up so it is now a half-step higher), on SoundCloud.[8] It was only later revealed that the lyrics were about his wife's struggles with depression, alcoholism and ensuing medical problems.[9]

However, Universal then delayed releasing The Tipping Point as planned, at which point Orzabal and Smith began to have second thoughts about the finished product. The duo lost focus on the project for a while as Orzabal struggled with health problems following the death of his wife, and Smith even contemplated walking away from the band altogether. However, after a successful tour in 2019, they reconvened in early 2020 and "plotted a path forward of how we could finish an album that we were both happy with". The duo signed with a new management company, decided to rework the album (keeping some tracks and replacing others with new material), and then signed a new contract with Concord Records.[10] Some lyrics were inspired by the death of Orzabal's wife in 2017.[11] Of the various songs recorded with other artists and producers, many of the band's collaborations with Sacha Skarbek remained on the album. The track "Stay", which was the other new track to appear on the Rule the World compilation album in 2017, was also included in a slightly remixed form.

Promotion

"The Tipping Point" was released as the album's lead single on 7 October 2021. The music video for the track was directed by Matt Mahurin.[12] The second single was "No Small Thing", released 3 December 2021,[13] and accompanied by a collage music video directed by Vern Moen.[14] The song was described as a restarting point after the band had been unhappy with the first version of the album, which was dominated by tracks that had been created with younger producers.[15] The third single, "Break the Man", was released on 13 January 2022. The song is about patriarchy[16] and marks the first time Tears for Fears have released an original song as a single not written or co-written by Roland Orzabal. Smith had tweeted a snippet of the song in 2018, though the chorus lyric had originally been "kill the man" instead of "break the man".[17] An animated video (directed by WeAreMonkeys, with animation by Mihai Wilson) was premiered on 10 February 2022.[18] A music video for "My Demons" was released on 1 June 2022, directed by Heather Gildroy and featuring the dancer Ed Monroe.[19][20] Earlier, Orzabal had joked that the song sounded as if it was written for Depeche Mode.[21] On 18 August 2022 the band released a fifth single and video - this time for the song "Long, Long, Long Time". In an interview with RetroPop Magazine Curt Smith explained that the song is basically about how him and Roland learned to solve disagreements through honest and open dialogue.[22] Once again Heather Gildroy directed the video, though this time with Justin Daashuur Hopkins.


Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.9/10[23]
Metacritic83/100[24]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[25]
Clash8/10[26]
Classic Rock[4]
The Independent[27]
musicOMH[28]
The Observer[29]
Pitchfork7.5/10[30]
PopMatters8/10[2]
Record Collector[31]
Uncut8/10[32]

The Tipping Point received an average score of 83 out of 100 based on 15 reviews according to Metacritic, indicating "universal acclaim".[24]

Track listing

The Tipping Point track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."No Small Thing"
  • Orzabal
  • Smith
  • Tears for Fears
  • Charlton Pettus
4:42
2."The Tipping Point"
  • Orzabal
  • Pettus
4:13
3."Long, Long, Long Time"
  • Smith
  • Orzabal
  • Pettus
  • Tears for Fears
  • Pettus
4:31
4."Break the Man"
  • Smith
  • Pettus
  • Tears for Fears
  • Pettus
3:55
5."My Demons"
  • Orzabal
  • Skarbek
  • Reutter
  • Tears for Fears
  • Skarbek
  • Reutter[a]
3:08
6."Rivers of Mercy"
  • Orzabal
  • Pettus
  • Doug Petty
  • Tears for Fears
  • Pettus
6:08
7."Please Be Happy"
  • Orzabal
  • Skarbek
  • Tears for Fears
  • Pettus
3:05
8."Master Plan"Orzabal
  • Tears for Fears
  • Pettus
4:37
9."End of Night"Orzabal
  • Tears for Fears
  • Skarbek
  • Reutter[a]
3:23
10."Stay"
  • Smith
  • Pettus
  • Tears for Fears
  • Skarbek
  • Pettus[a]
  • Reutter[a]
4:36
Total length:42:25
Deluxe CD edition(s)
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
11."Secret Location" (UK and European deluxe edition bonus track)
  • Tears for Fears
  • Skarbek
  • Florian Reutter[a]
4:04
12."Let It All Evolve" (US Target edition bonus track)
  • Smith
  • Orzabal
  • Pettus
  • Tears for Fears
  • Pettus
  • Skarbek
  • Reutter[a]
4:26
13."Shame (Cry Heaven)" (US Target edition bonus track)
  • Smith
  • Skarbek
  • Pettus
  • Reutter
  • Orzabal
  • Tears for Fears
  • Skarbek
  • Florian Reutter[a]
5:31
Total length:56:26
Japanese edition bonus tracks[33]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
11."Let It All Evolve"
  • Smith
  • Orzabal
  • Pettus
  • Tears for Fears
  • Pettus
  • Skarbek
  • Reutter[a]
4:26
12."Shame (Cry Heaven)"
  • Smith
  • Skarbek
  • Pettus
  • Reutter
  • Orzabal
  • Tears for Fears
  • Skarbek
  • Florian Reutter[a]
5:31
Total length:52:20

Note: The only release containing all three bonus tracks on one disc is the Super Deluxe Edition (SDE) CD edition,[34] which was limited to 2000 units.[35] "Let It All Evolve" and "Shame (Cry Heaven)" are also available on vinyl, as a 7" that is part of the limited Target vinyl edition.[36]

Steven Wilson mixed the album (without bonus tracks) to 5.1 surround and Dolby Atmos. The Atmos version was also released on streaming services, but the 5.1 is only available on the SDE blu-ray disc, again initially limited to 2000 units,[37] but later re-pressed due to demand,[38] the second pressing surpassing the first with 2500 manufactured units.[39]

Note

  • ^[a] indicates an additional producer

Personnel

Tears for Fears

  • Roland Orzabal – vocals (lead on 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11 & 12), keyboards, programming, guitars, mixing (5, 9)
  • Curt Smith – vocals (lead on 2, 3, 4, 7, 10 & 13; backing on 1, 5 & 11), keyboards, bass guitars, mixing (5, 9)

Additional musicians

  • Charlton Pettus – keyboards, programming, guitars, mixing (1, 3, 4, 6-8, 10, 11)
  • Sacha Skarbek – acoustic piano (7), vocal production (3)
  • Florian Reutter – programming, vocal production (3)
  • Doug Petty – accordion, Hammond organ (1), acoustic piano (6), string arrangements (7)
  • Max von Ameln – guitars (5)
  • Aaron Sterling – drums (1, 4, 6)
  • Jamie Wollam – drums (1)
  • Carina Round – backing vocals (1, 3, 5, 6)
  • Jason Joseph – vocal arrangements, choir (6)
  • Charles Jones – choir (6)
  • Jessi Collins – choir (6)
  • Lauren Evans – choir (6)

Technical

  • Ted Jensen – mastering (1–10)
  • Justin Shturtz – mastering (11–13)
  • Tim Palmer – mixing (2)
  • Craig Silvey – mixing (12)
  • Tony Maserati – mixing (13)
  • Max von Ameln – engineering assistance
  • Steven Wilson – surround mixing (Blu-Ray and Atmos streaming)

Artwork

  • Tommy Steele – design, art direction
  • Carrie Smith – art direction
  • Cinta Vidal – cover art
  • Frank Ockenfels 3 – photography

Charts

References

  1. ^ Wheeler, Brad (16 February 2022). "Tears For Fears' first album in 18 years, The Tipping Point, is the record their management didn't want". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 22 February 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b Blum, Jordan (21 February 2022). "Tears for Fears Make a Resplendent Return on 'The Tipping Point'". PopMatters. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  3. ^ Hirsh, Mark (28 February 2022). "The Tipping Point review: Tears for Fears prove their music is still vital on their first album in 17 years". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 1 March 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Tears for Fears - The Tipping Point". Classic Rock. March 2022. p. 80.
  5. ^ Kreps, Daniel (7 October 2021). "Tears for Fears return for first album in 17 years". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 10 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  6. ^ a b Carl Smith (4 March 2022). "Central Cee scores first ever UK Number 1 album with 23, beating Tears For Fears' comeback". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  7. ^ a b c Keith Caulfield (6 March 2022). "'Encanto' Enchants Billboard 200 Albums Chart With Eighth Week at No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Please Be Happy :: Tears For Fears Brasil". tearsforfearsbrasil.webnode.page. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  9. ^ "'If there is a God, this is what he put us on Earth to do': the unlikely return of Tears for Fears". the Guardian. 8 October 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  10. ^ "Tears For Fears: 'New album 'The Tipping Point' almost pushed us over the edge'". Retro Pop. 22 December 2021. Archived from the original on 29 December 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  11. ^ Barton, Laura (8 October 2021). "'If there is a God, this is what he put us on Earth to do': the unlikely return of Tears for Fears". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  12. ^ Garcia, Thania (7 October 2021). "Tears for Fears announce first album in 17 years 'The Tipping Point'". Billboard. Archived from the original on 9 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  13. ^ Kreps, Daniel (3 December 2021). "Tears for Fears Go Back to Basics With New Song 'No Small Thing'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 5 December 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  14. ^ Pearis, Bill. "Tears for Fears share "No Small Thing" from first album in 17 years". BrooklynVegan. Archived from the original on 5 December 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
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  21. ^ "Tears for Fears: Ein Song hätte für Depeche Mode sein können". depechemode.de (in German). 6 March 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  22. ^ "Tears For Fears share music video for latest single 'Long, Long, Long Time'". www.retropopmagazine.com. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
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  24. ^ a b "The Tipping Point by Tears for Fears". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 1 March 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  25. ^ Jurek, Thom. "Tears for Fears - The Tipping Point". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
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